That Weird, Nerdy
(Banned) Book Club
Read Boldly. Resist Censorship.
Join the Fight.
A book club for passionate readers who want to defend intellectual freedom, join the resistance against hate and fascism, and connect with a community of like-minded nerds.
There’s a good chance that, since the US election…
- You’re feeling helpless and hopeless in the face of rising authoritarianism and hate.
- You’re becoming even more outraged by censorship and feel helpless to stop it.
- You’ve been ranting about banned books to your friends… but they don’t quite get it.
- You crave meaningful conversations with people who share your passion for intellectual freedom.
- You want to take action, but you’re not sure where to start.
I’m right there with you.
As soon as I woke up to the results of the election, the feelings of dread, despair, and hopelessness began to take over.
But…as things progressed over the next days and weeks, an idea popped into my head of how we can maybe, slowly, build our own resistance, while preserving our energy and capacity, and learning new things along the way.
A book club seemed like a possibility that I could actively pursue…something that could grow a community…
And a banned book club…
Now that opened up whole new doors in my brain…
Because that could build a resistance.
When you’re part of a movement that celebrates banned books…things shift.
You stop feeling isolated and start feeling empowered.
You find your people…the ones who understand the power of words and share your values.
You learn, grow, and evolve, become confident in taking action, and begin to believe that even as one person, you can start to make a difference.
Welcome to
That Weird, Nerdy (Banned) Book Club!
This isn’t just a book club. It’s a community of bold readers fighting censorship, celebrating the stories that challenge us, and taking action to make a difference.
So what does one actually…do…in a banned book club?
Well…lots of stuff…
Monthly Book Selection
Each month, we’ll focus on a different banned book, with discussion guides, journaling prompts, and other resources related to the book provided to guide you along your reading journey.
Live Virtual Discussions
We’ll connect…at the very least…once a month to discuss the book and how it makes us feel, what we’re learning from it, how it may or may not apply to what’s happening in our mess of a world right now. Any and all things that we want to chat about.
Expert Q&A Sessions
My goal is to have guest expert Q&A sessions once a quarter with folks from different areas – librarians, authors, those involved in running non-profits or other activism works in the areas that our books focus on.
Charity Donations
Each month, a portion of the proceeds of the book club will go towards the nonprofit of choice for that month, based on the membership tiers. We’ll also provide a way where you can make one-time donations to the nonprofit in addition to your membership tier.
Through these features (and more to come as we grow!) the ultimate goal is for you to feel as though you’ve…
- Gained a sense of purpose and empowerment around the topics and books we’ll focus on each month.
- Have a deeper love and understanding of banned literature.
- Grow connections with a community that values intellectual freedom.
- Become more confident in your own strength and ability to resist the incoming regime and fight against oppression and hatred when you see it.
We’re not just going to be reading books. We’re going to take action the way we know how.
This isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution: you get to choose to engage as much or as little as you want.
This also isn’t going to be a magic solution – it’s going to take time, patience, and a willingness on all our parts to learn and grow as we take in these books.
But with a focus on community, knowledge, and activism, That Weird, Nerdy (Banned) Book Club aims to deliver both connection and impact – exactly what we need for true resistance.
Meet your host!
Hey! I’m Sarah Bowser!
I’m a quirky book nerd who’s been fiercely defending books, intellectual freedom, critical thinking, and creativity since high school debates over Fahrenheit 451, Animal Farm, and 1984.
As a coach and author, I’ve built my business through helping quirky, distracted people turn chaos into clarity. Now, I’m combining my love of banned books with my mission to create spaces for meaningful action and connection.
That’s why I created That Weird, Nerdy (Banned) Book Club—to turn readers into resistance fighters.
Exclusive Resource: That Weird, Nerdy Banned Books Tracker
In order to go forward and take action after reading each banned book, we need a way to capture all of our thoughts, ideas, and inspiration.
So I’ve put together a Notion database that you’ll be able to copy and use for yourself, so that you can track your banned book reads, reflect on both their societal impact and the impact they’ve had on you personally, take notes during our virtual meetings, and brainstorm ways that you want to take action based on how the books inspire you.
If you’re ready to read some fantastic banned books and kick off your resistance and activism journey – join us and become a Founding Member.
As a founding member, you’ll lock in your monthly rate for as long as you stay in the club – with tiers starting at $10 per month.
Want a sneak peak at the banned book plan for 2025?
January
Fahrenheit 451
by Ray Bradbury
Supporting:
American Library Association
February
Speak
by Laurie Halse Anderson
Supporting:
Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN)
March
The Complete Persepolis
by Marjane Satrapi
Supporting:
Center for Constitutional Rights
April
1984
by George Orwell
Supporting:
American Civil Liberties Union
May
The Complete Maus
by Art Spiegelman
Supporting:
American Joint Jewish Distribution Committee
June
All Boys Aren’t Blue
by George M. Johnson
Supporting:
Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice
July
The Handmaid’s Tale
by Margaret Atwood
Supporting:
Global Fund for Women
August
Animal Farm
by George Orwell
Supporting:
Human Rights First
September
The Bluest Eye
by Toni Morrison
Supporting:
National Women’s Law Center
October
The Hate U Give
by Angie Thomas
Supporting:
Institute for Justice
November
Gender Queer: A Memoir
by Maia Kobabe
Supporting:
Engender Health
December
24 Seconds From Now
by Jason Reynolds
Supporting:
Guttmacher Institute
Plus…
A dedicated community space – off of social media – to discuss the book throughout the month, in between our virtual sessions.
A resource vault with a section dedicated to each book and its resources, any interviews and Q&As, activism ideas, and more!
Choose your membership tier:
$10 per month
Full access to the book club, resources, and community
$15 per month
Full access to the book club, resources, and community
PLUS a $5 donation to the the month’s chosen nonprofit
$20 per month
Full access to the book club, resources, and community
PLUS a $10 donation to the the month’s chosen nonprofit
This is for you if…
- You love books and believe in intellectual freedom.
- You want to turn frustration about censorship into meaningful action.
- You’re ready to fight for our rights amidst the incoming authoritarian regime in the US…
This is NOT for you if…
- You don’t believe censorship is an issue.
- You’re looking for a traditional, surface-level book club.
- You voted for and support the incoming fascist government in the US.